Guard and trap



July 26, 1932. E. v. wlLBERN GUARD AND TRAP Filed July 16. 1950 um Y Patented July 26, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD V. WILBERN, F SAUGERTIES-ON-THE-HUDSON, NEW YORK GUARD AND TRAP Application filed July 16,

In the production of cocoanuts, great trouble is experienced by reason of -rats climbing the trees and destroying the partially formed or half ripe cocoanuts. As a consequence it has been the practice to place guards on the trees which will prevent the ascension of the rodents to the nuts.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means by which the rodents which attempt to ascend the trees, are captured and preferably destroyed, thereby not only preventin destruction of the fruit, but securing the estruction of the animal that causes the damage.

While the inventionis particularly designed for cocoanut trees, it is obvious that it may be employed on trees of other characters which may be subject to the same trouble and indeed on posts or supports for corn cribs, granaries and the like.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment the invention may take, and showing it on a tree with the trap set.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the same, with the trap sprung.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Y The structure shown is on a tree, indicated at Ll, it being readily understood that this may be a support of any kind, such as a post or standard on which a granary, bin or corn crib is mounted. Encircling the tree is a A bell-shaped rodent guard that may be variously constructed. In the present instance it is formed of sheet metal sections 5 having outstanding flanges 6 that are bolted or otherwise secured together, as shown at 7. The upper end, which is of least diameter, snugly encircles the tree trunk and is thereby supported on said trunk. This leaves an open space 8 within the same and around the' trunk, the space tapering toward the top, as shown particularly in Figure 3. A guard of this kind is ordinarily sufficient to prevent the ascension of the rodents, which rodents, however, can descend and escape.

In the present embodiment, there is formed in the wall at the upper portion of the guard, an opening 9 of sutlicient size to permit an 1930.y Serial No. 468,396.

animal ascending the trunk, to pass therethrough, or at least partially pass therethrough. This passageway therefore will be found by an animal attempting to make the ascension as it circles around the trunk in the space 8. Associated with this passageway 9 is a trap mechanism. In the embodiment disclosed, it consists of a jaw plate 10 pivoted at 11 to the guard at the lower end of the opening or passageway 9 and adapted to swing upwardly across the same, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. The jaw has an angularly disposed linger 12 fixed thereto at its lower end, said linger terminating at its free end in an inset hook 13 that is adapted to pass through a relatively small opening 14 in the wall below the'passageway 9. A. leaf spring 14a, secured at one end, as shownat 15, operates against the und-erside of the finger 12 and thus serves to swing said linger outwardly and swing the Jaw 10 across the passageway 9. The jaw is provided with a plurality of spikes or spurs 16 that enter the passageway.

In order to secure the jaw in its outer- 'r' most position and with the finger 12 lying alongside the outer face of the guard a trigger-is employed, consisting of a wire or rod having a serpentine portion 17 pivoted to a a link 18 that is engaged with the pivot 11 of the jaw. The lower end of this trigger is a straight piece 19 that is adapted to lie longitudinally along the inner side of the guard and engage the hook 13, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3.

The operation of the device is as follows: The jaw is set with the spring 14a compressed by having the hook engaged with the portion 19 of the trigger. The jaw is thus swung outwardly away from the opening or passageway 9. lVhen a rodent ascends the tree and enters the space 8, it moves about the trunk in an endeavor to find a passageway on up the trunk, and consequently discovers the opening 9. In endeavoring to pass through 95 this opening, it will rub against the serpentine portion 17 of the trigger and jostle it sufliciently to release the hook 13. The

spring 14a thereupon is free to act, swinging the finger 12 outwardly and the jaw 10 in- 100 Wardly, causing the spikes 16 to pass into the.V

opening 9 and spear the animal.

. From the foregoing, it. isthought that the construction, operation and man37 advantages of the herein describedinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art Without further descriptigom and it ,will be understood that various. changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted t0 Without @parues frere the spirit or sacri'icing'anyof'the advantages of the invention.

What I claim, is: '-1. The combination with a guard toren,-`

circling a tree or likesupport to prevent thel Wall and openinginto the space Within the bell and aboutrthe tree or support, of a trap jaw pivoted onthe outside of the bell and having spike teeth that enter the passageway, said jaw having a finger provided With an 0H- set hook at its free end, a spring operating against the finger to move the javv, and a trigger mounted on theinnenside of vrthe-.bell and having a portion that detachably engages the hook.

" In testimony whereof', I a'IiX'ml signature.

' EDWARD V. W BERN.

jaw.: having.. impaling means that op.-

era-.te inA passageway, andi"meansI tor Vholding and tripping the jaw-.r v Y l 3L rIh'e vcombination with i a; snbsta-ntially bell-shapedfrodent baffle having/means for securing its. smaller endl; in; a position cnf circlzmgla tree or like!supports'aidibafe.havf

ingarpassagevvay forthe rodents throughits Wall; and; opening. intoA the space Within the bell about thegtrjee: or. support, of a trap rueehaini-srn` for engaging a rodent passing thi"o-iifgflmV said passageway 4.; The 'combfna 'on Withva substantially bellshapedrodentbaffle'having means for 'l securing its smaller-end. a position en circling a tresor, like support, said-bafliehavingia passageway forl the rodents through its wall and opening intmthe. space Within; the

bell vand'f about. thetreeor support, ofi a trap jaw mounted onthe bell andoperati ng on an animaly enteringfthe; passageway and trig.-

ger mei l anismfor thejawloeated Within the bell.

` 5.; The combination a substantially I belleshaped rodentbale--havingfmeansfor securing its smaller enel in a-'position encircling a tree 'or like support, said-baflle havmg-apassagewayor the rodentsthrough its Wall and opening into the space Within the bell and: about thetree or support,- ofi a trap yavv pivotedjon thebell anClf Operating in the passageway, asspringfor operatingthe jaw, andia latchfor holding thejavv againstgthe action ofwthe, .spring and including a', trigger en the inside Qftheibell adjacent the pas,- sagemvay. l Y Y 6;, The combination. with a substantially belvlj-shapedfrodent. baille Vhaving i means for securing its-smaller` endIin a-positionllencircling j'a .treeor like support, saidbalile-havr ing a passageWayforth-erodents'throughits ier 

